System dynamics

Although systems diagrams can give deep insights into the behaviour of systems, they have their limitations. For example, by themselves spaghetti-like diagrams may not make it easy to understand large complex systems with many qualitative and quantitative elements, and many interacting feedback loops.

In a letter to The Times dated 3 May 2010, Jon Moynihan of PA Consulting Group gave a robust defence, including:

You printed what has been dubbed on the internet a “spaghetti” chart, depicting the current Afghan environment … However, ours was far from being over-simplistic PowerPoint, using instead a well-known technique — system dynamics — to review a highly complex situation. Unlike linear thinking, the default mode of the human brain, system dynamics thinks about repercussions and occasionally unintended consequences of actions. This chart was … designed to be part of a broad briefing, where it was slowly revealed alongside a verbal description of each major element. … This chart, with its attempt to grapple with complexity, was a dream for those wanting to respond trivially. But do we really want simplistic philosophies to win out … Do we want strategies developed that take no account of complexity and the sometimes counterintuitive outcomes of well-intentioned actions?1

System dynamics2, developed by J. W. Forrester in the 1960s, goes far beyond diagrams to analyse the behaviour of complex systems using qualitative and quantitative methods to model the dynamics of systems.

What do you think?

Do you think the system diagram above is clear and understandable, or too complex to be useful? Are you convinced by Jon Moynihan’s argument?

Do you think systems diagrams can help in understanding the way systems work? You can add your comments below.